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Tonight’s Prime Time features a report by Adrian Lydon into conditions in some private rented accommodation in Ireland.

Around a quarter of a million people are tenants of private properties in Ireland, but despite the introduction of tougher legislation in 2009 covering basic standards for accommodation, Prime Time has found properties without heat, hot running water or sanitary facilities. And in some cases, the State is helping to pay for them.

Prime Time has also found serious issues around illegal evictions and tenants’ deposits being withheld by landlords. Since 2004, disputes between landlords and tenants are meant to be settled primarily outside the Courts through the Private Residential Tenancies Board – but even here, Prime Time has uncovered evidence of long delays and difficulties with enforcing decisions.

Background Note: Some material in this report was gathered in Autumn 2011 for the Prime Time Investigates strand. Research and filming has continued throughout this year. It is now being broadcast as an extended Prime Time report.